phillyburbs.com
Associated Press
Posted: Wednesday, January 4, 2012 5:45 am

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A union representing correction officers at a New Jersey jail is criticizing an agreement between county and federal officials that establishes one of the newest immigration detention facilities in the nation.

Joe Amato, president of PBA Local 382, which represents officers at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, sent a series of letters to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. complaining that the agreement, signed in mid-December between the county and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, violates union provisions and isn't being properly administrated by the county.

Amato did not return a phone message or an email seeking comment Tuesday. But in a Dec. 27 letter, he argued his membership was being forced to assume added responsibilities to deal with the "pampering" of immigration detainees while being given no additional benefits.

He added that county officials weren't allocating enough resources from the deal with ICE to allow jail employees to properly implement it.

"Jail management needs to be allowed to stop jumping through federal hoops and concentrate on what's best for all inmates regardless of their classification," Amato said.

The county executive's chief of staff, Philip Alagia, said that no union grievances had been filed over the ICE agreement and that the letter from Amato lacked specific examples or demands.

"What we're asking is for something specific; we'd be glad to answer it," Alagia said.

DiVincenzo has said the agreement will generate millions of dollars in badly needed revenue for the county.

ICE has several similar agreements across the nation with local jails and private contractors to rent bed space for immigrants awaiting deportation or other court-related matters. The immigrants are classified as administrative, not criminal, detainees.

Immigration advocates have opposed the expansion of the Essex County facility since it was proposed, submitting a petition to stop the jail from increasing its number of immigrant detainees and questioning why management of the contract was granted to a politically connected firm that was the sole bidder.

Federal immigration officials had been seeking a new or expanded detention facility to serve the New York metropolitan area.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/ap/state/...bf661b74d.html